Statistics and Research for Managerial Decisions

Business Decision Individual Project-Workshop 1

Geeta M. Patel

Statistics and Research for Managerial Decisions QNT/530

Quest Diagnostics is the nation's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services. Our clients include patients and consumers, physicians, hospitals, health insurers, employers and government agencies. Each year The company perform: Personal health testing on over 100 million patients, Over 250 million diagnostic laboratory tests, and More than 6.5 million gene-based tests. Quest Diagnostics Inc. have: 1) The world's largest private database of clinical test results to help identify best practices in healthcare services across populations of patients, and develop clinical support tools, 2) Leading edge diagnostic test development through our Nichols Institute, and 3) Worldwide clinical trial capabilities that help bring new treatments to patients and consumers.

Quest Diagnostics Inc. develops tests that help people live longer, healthier lives. Some of our most notable technological advances include: Earlier detection of Cervical Cancer. Cervical cancer is almost 100% curable when detected early, and clinical studies have shown that the Thin Prep® Pap Test™ increases the early detection of precancerous cells. This test has been hailed as one of the most significant improvements in cervical cancer screening in over 50 years. Every year Chicago Business Unit cytology laboratory performs 1.1 million Pap smear tests.

My name is Geeta M. Patel and I am employed at Quest Diagnostics Inc. as a supervisor of the cytology laboratory section. Currently the business issue is turn around time for ThinPrep Pap Test reports. Many of the clients have complained that the turn around time for "ThinPrep Pap Test" reports is too slow. Clients also have complained that the patient care is affected due to slower turn around time for test reports. The hypothesis of the business issue is that the turn around time is too slow for reporting the Pap Test results. Management has planned to make improvements for turn around time of ThinPrep Pap Test reports. In order to make improvements, the management needs to research on current workflow processes of ThinPrep Pap Test and then find the possible solution.

The management has defined a green belt project for turn around time improvement. The theory of Six Sigma will be used in this project. Six Sigma is a commitment-"Virtual Perfection" - 3.4 Defects per Million Opportunities. It's a Philosophy-"Pursuit of Industry Leadership Through Quality". It's a System, which includes following elements:

* Strategically Aligned Focus

* Measure & Track Against Customer Requirements

* Rigorous, Data-Based Methods for Improvement

* Dedicated Resources Driving Projects

* Holding the Gains

* Standardizing Effective Solutions

* Training for All Employees

The greenbelt project team will be formed which will include supervisors of departments involved in the workflow process of the ThinPrep